I may have moved across the lake from my hometown, but I’m still very much the Dallasite. I recently got an email blast from Stephanie Faulk (sfaulk@dallascvb.com) Public Relations /Outreach Manager for the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau. The correspondence spelled out some of my favorite things to do around Dallas. Allow me to share a few.

You had me at Fletcher’s Corny Dogs! I have always loved the fair. I go every year. My husband is not as fascinated with it as I am, so it’s a good thing my bestie is. We make a day of it.

First order of business is a corny dog – then I repeat whenever the opportunity presents itself. That means I don’t eat much else. The fair is famous for fried things, but I don’t want to waste my calories. I know I’m not going to like anything as much as I do the corny dogs and I have to get enough of them to last me all year.

Part of my love for the fair is nostalgia. I go through each building as if it were required by some divinely assigned task. I look at the new cars, test drive recliners, listen to pitches for gadgets, gawk at handicrafts, admire photographs, smell livestock, listen to music, sample goodies, walk down the Midway and sometimes even ride something.

Fair day is one of my favorite days of the whole year. Don’t miss your fair day!

I may go to the fair one day every year, but I go to the Arboretum much more frequently. Not as often as I’d like, but that’s life. I’ve been during the best days of Autumn in the Arboretum and Blooms, but I’also been there on chilly days in February. I don’t think there is a bad day to visit the arboretum. Even if it is pouring rain there’s a tram to deliver you to the DeGolyer House for a tour.

Ms. Faulk reported that folks voted Autumn at the Arboretum one of “America’s Best Pumpkin Festivals” in Fodor’s Travel 2014. With more the 75000 pumpkins dressing the garden up for fall, who can blame them. Kids of all ages love to see the spectacular fall display and gorgeous gardens. Put it on your calendar.

I’m ashamed to admit how infrequently I visit the Meadows Museum on the SMU campus. With so many attractions and events to distract me it’s not hard to understand why the quiet little Spanish Museum gets forgotten. However, the museum itself is a wonder of architecture with its grand staircase and the works of art it holds are gorgeous.

If like me you’ve been neglecting the Meadows, now is the time to rectify that. One hundred and thirty works from three spectacular palaces will be on hand, including works by Van Gogh, Goya and Renoir – to name just a few. This will be the first time this private collection will be leaving Spain. What a marvelous opportunity to see these masterworks of decorative arts and painting.

Other Exciting Opportunities

These wonderful events barely scratch the surface of things to do this fall in Dallas. A survey of Jackson Pollack‘s works will be at the Dallas Museum of Art beginning in November and staying through March. And speaking of modern art, on October 16, downtown Dallas will be turned into a wonderland of light, video, sound, performance and projection by some of the world’s best contemporary interactive artists in an extravaganza called Aurora. Following this man-made light show, the Perot Museum will be showing off some of Mother Natures most amazing creations in Creatures of Light: Natures Bioluminescence.

If Dallas is your hometown, please take advantage of these wonderful opportunities. If you don’t live here, then it’s time for you to come visit.

The Fall Festival at our Dallas Arboretum is something special, but you don’t have to believe me. Ask Fodor’s Travel. They say it’s one of “America’s Best Pumpkin Festivals.” Or go and check it out yourself. It won’t take you long to know why Dallasites and visitors alike flock to DABS this time of year.

This year’s theme is “Everything’s Bigger in Texas” so they’ve recreated an Old Texas Town in Pecan Grove, but they built it with pumpkins. You can visit the General Store, the Post Office, the Blacksmith and the Jail. There’s a covered wagon and a Cinderella Carriage. There’s even a creek for gold mining.

Supplementing the pumpkin count this year are squash and gourds. All told there are 75000 in 52 varieties.One of my favorite things in Pecan Grove is an area where they have put out samples of each variety and put up signs with their names. When it comes to corn there are 1500 ears of corn and 1200 corn stalks. Throughout the garden you’ll find 150,000 blooming flowers and plants.

Shopping opportunities at the Gift Shop

Plenty to Do for Kids of All Ages

Kids are going to love the Pecan Grove. You can let them loose to wander,imagine and play. However, during the festival there are activities for everyone. Here’s a sampling:

Bottom Line? The gardens are gorgeous during Autumn at the Arboretum and you need to go to this visual feast. A picture being worth a thousand words, imagine the economy of showing you all of these photos. I hope you enjoy them. Come back next week to get the scoop on Richardson’s Cottonwood Arts Festival in Cottonwood Park.